CLEANER Islam Asad was picking up trash near a rubbish dump in Teck Whye Lane on Oct 12 morning when he came across a non-descript plastic bag lying on the ground.

When the 33-year-old bent down to grab it, he was shocked to find a sleeping baby boy inside.

The newborn was swaddled in a soiled towel, his umbilical cord still attached.

'I thought it was rubbish,' said Mr Islam told The Straits Times last night through an interpreter.

A police spokesman said there were no visible injuries on the baby and he is doing well in hospital.

Police are not sure how he ended up at the dump and are appealing to the public for help in finding his parents.

Mr Islam's supervisor, Gazi Mazharul, called police after the boy was discovered behind a taxi around 8.30am. At the time, Mr Islam was collecting rubbish bound for the dump's trash compactor.

Mr Gazi said several officers arrived on the scene, followed by paramedics.

The baby began bawling when one policeman lifted him out of the bag, he said.

Read the full story in Friday's edition of The Straits Times.